Coding apparatus and method

Abstract

Apparatus and method for image coding may group code units corresponding to an image based on a same at least one parameter of each of the code units. Each group of code units which is grouped includes code units of which values of the same at least one parameter are the same. In addition, the code units of each group of code units which is grouped are entropy coded in parallel.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An image coding apparatus comprising:
 a processor 
 to group code units corresponding to an image by comparing values of at least one same parameter of each of the code units and forming each group of code units with any number of code units not exceeding a predetermined maximum number, wherein each group of code units grouped includes code units of which all values of the at least one same parameter are the same; 
 to add dummy data to each group of the code units determined to include less than the predetermined maximum number of code units, such that a number of the code units belonging to the each group of code units is the predetermined maximum number; and 
 to entropy code in parallel the code units of the each group of code units grouped. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the code units are grouped based on a plurality of same parameters of each of the code units, and wherein the values of the respective same parameters of the code units in the each group of code units grouped are the same. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the code units include code blocks with which the at least one same parameter is associated. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one same parameter represents at least one of horizontal size, vertical size, sub-band type and calculated coding pass number. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor arranges the groups of code units such that the code units of the each group of code units grouped can be entropy coded in parallel. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is
 to arrange coding data from entropy coding in parallel the coding units of the each group of code units grouped, into a predetermined arrangement, by deleting the coding data corresponding to the dummy data. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is
 to transform image data representative of the image into coefficient data in each sub-band; and
 to divide a region of the sub-band of the coefficient data into the code units. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the coefficient data of the code units is coded at the same position in the group in parallel. 
     
     
       9. A method of image coding comprising:
 grouping, by a processor, code units corresponding to an image by comparing values of at least one same parameter of each of the code units and forming each group of code units with any number of code units not exceeding a predetermined maximum number, wherein each group of code units grouped by the processor includes code units of which all values of the at least one same parameter are the same; 
 adding dummy data to each group of the code units determined to include less than the predetermined maximum number of code units, such that a number of the code units belonging to the each group of code units is the predetermined maximum number; and 
 entropy coding in parallel the code units of the each group of code units grouped by the processor. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the code units are grouped based on a plurality of same parameters of each of the code units, and wherein the values of the respective same parameters of the code units in the each group of code units grouped by the processor are the same. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the code units include code blocks with which the at least one same parameter is associated. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one same parameter represents at least one of horizontal size, vertical size, sub-band type and calculated coding pass number. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 arranging the groups of code units such that the code units of the each group of code units grouped by the processor can be entropy coded in parallel. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 arranging coding data from entropy coding in parallel the coding units of the each group of code units grouped by the processor, into a predetermined arrangement, by deleting the coding data corresponding to the dummy data. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 transforming image data representative of the image into coefficient data in each sub-band; and 
 dividing a region of the sub-band of the coefficient data into the code units. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the coefficient data of the code units is coded at the same position in the group in parallel. 
     
     
       17. A non-transitory recording medium recorded with a computer-readable program executable by a computer for enabling the computer to perform image coding, the program comprising the steps of:
 grouping code units corresponding to an image by comparing values of at least one same parameter of each of the code units and forming each group of code units with any number of code units not exceeding a predetermined maximum number, wherein each group of code units grouped includes code units of which all values of the at least one same parameter are the same; 
 adding dummy data to each group of the code units determined to include less than the predetermined maximum number of code units, such that a number of the code units belonging to the each group of the code units is the predetermined maximum number; and 
 entropy coding in parallel the code units of each group of code units grouped.